How long do you take over a putt?

[slugger]

Watching the US PGA and can't believe how long some of the players are taking from marking their ball to actually getting on with the putting of the ball.

The greens must be tough as a lot are missing from 4 or 5 ft but it still seems incredible how long some are taking.

How long do you take for each putt? Do you have a routine where you mark it then line it up, or are you more of a just quickly read the line and putt away kind of player?

I've been taking my time recently with my putting, but even then i'm still twice as quick to putt as what i'm watching from the pros now.

 

[RGDave]

I seem to putt better when I just get on with it.
Read it, put the ball down, 2-3 practice strokes (looking at the hole) step up, hole/ball/hole/ball - HIT.
Not too long.

 

[thecraw]

I hit my putt when I'm ready. End of.

 

[mweston1016]

The way I see it, if you can't read the line more or less straight away, you'll never work it out. A friend of mine last night was lining up from all angles then he'd step up and streak one by about 60 foot like he was playing some sort of forward drive.

 

[minty18]

I have a good look at the line of the putt as i'm walking up to it, line the ball up and hit the fella at the hole. I dont think you should over complicate things with putting.

 

[Yerman]

18.473 SECS

 

[julsk10]

Try to have the line read as others are putting then 2 practice strokes no matter how far/close to hole and then putt. Seems to work

 

[Kaizer_Soze]

Quick attempt to read the line, 3 practice swings, step up, 2 or 3 looks at the hole while trying to visualise what I want to do and then .........................














..........................MISS (usually)

 

[jammydodger]

Get a general feel for the green as I walk up to it. Mark my ball and clean it and if i'm the first to putt then i'll put it back down and have a quick look from the side to gauge the distance and then back to the ball, deep breath in and out then one practice and let it go on its way. If i'm not first to putt then i'll do a 360* tour round the putt while the ohters line up , then i'm ready to go. Doesnt take long at all really

 

[rgs]

Depends on the putt--some putts on my course require more consideration than others.
Generally i make an assessment of the putt as i make my way towards the green and always ensure i am ready to putt when its my turn.

 

[hopeful]

This seems to me just in keeping with the length of time these 'stars' take to complete a round, which IMO is getting ridiculous. I have been known to occasionally yell at the screen "F' GAWDSAKE HIT THE BLOODY THING!"

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Once I've got my line, I stand beside the ball, make sure my grip is good take two practice shots, address the putt, taking care that my alignment with my shoulders (have a habit of being closed) is good pick my spot and go. No time at all. I played with one uy last week and I thought rigamortis had set in. He adressed the putt and then nothing happened for about 20 seconds (seemed longer) and then he'd just hit it. Not the best putter but streaky

 

[mono217]

I take about 40 seconds after reading the putt.

 

[DMC]

I generally dont take to long,the more i look at it the more breaks i tend to imagine.

 

[Herbie]

Depends on the difficulty of the read, but under normal circumstances not long at all.

 

[USER1999]

Rotella (yes, I am still reading the book) thinks your first impression of the putt is normally correct, so just get on with it.

 

[GB72]

I generally dont take to long,the more i look at it the more breaks i tend to imagine.

Same here, if I look at it too long then I start looking for breaks that are not there

 

[nulassilb]

I generally like to play briskly - including putting. But putting is a real weakness in my game so I've tried several tactics. I seem to putt best when the whole game has a nice rhythm to it. Keep the game flowing and I play better - including on the greens. (Putting was poor today, however)

 

[slugger]

I generally dont take to long,the more i look at it the more breaks i tend to imagine.

Same here, if I look at it too long then I start looking for breaks that are not there

I noticed i do this as well... one putt at the weekend and it was a while before i realised - it's a straight putt you muppet!

 

[brendy]

I walk up to the putt, assume stance, practice putt to refresh my mind of the line, then stand over the ball hovering the putter above the ball and take a second putt stroke, I find this gives me a good indication of where the ball is going then hit it. I cant blame myself for not aligning myself and it can only come down to a misread after that.